What is it?
Family counseling is a form of psychotherapy that helps individuals resolve their problems in the context of their family units, where many issues are likely to begin. Each family member works together with the others to better understand their group dynamic and how their individual actions affect each other and the family unit as a whole. One of the most important premises of family counseling is that what happens to one member of a family happens to everyone in the family.
When It's Used
Many psychological issues begin early in life and stem from relationships within the family of origin, or the family one grows up in, even though these issues often surface later on in life. Families in conflict, as well as couples and individuals with issues and concerns related to their families of origin, can benefit from family counseling.
What to Expect
During family counseling, the family works individually and together to resolve a problem that directly affects one or more family members. Each family member has the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings about how they are affected. Together, the family works to help the individual in distress and to help relieve the strain on the family. Family members explore their individual roles within the family, learn how to switch roles, if necessary, and learn ways to support and help each other with the goal of restoring family relationships and rebuilding a healthy family system.
How It Works
American psychiatrist Murray Bowen believed that to understand the family system, the family must be
viewed as a whole, and that what defines a family is more than the people who make it up but also how they
interact with each other to create a unique family dynamic.
I am here to collaborate with you if you are looking to create a unique family dynamic by lessening the
strain on the family and learn ways to support each other to restore family relationships to rebuild a
healthy family.